Back-to-school season has a way of throwing us off balance. One moment we’re celebrating the quiet pockets of space that come with new schedules, and the next we’re drowning in routines, expectations, and overwhelm. In this episode, I share how to steady yourself and your family with small, doable rhythms that layer in slowly, like learning piano one hand at a time instead of trying to master the whole song on day one.

Drawing from my years as a first-grade teacher and now as a mom, I talk about why anchor rhythms like bedtime and wake time matter so much, how visual and auditory reminders can take the “nag” out of transitions, and why giving yourself and your kids grace to practice is the key to building habits that actually stick. You’ll hear stories from the classroom, honest encouragement about what’s normal in this season, and practical tweaks to help your days run smoother without the pressure of perfection.

If you’ve felt the floor shift beneath you as the school year starts, this conversation is your reminder that rhythms are not meant to bind you, they’re meant to free you. With patience, practice, and a little faith in the process, you’ll create space for connection, ease, and joy in the everyday.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Don’t forget to check out my How to Make Mom Friends Blog Post, don’t forget about yourself, Mama! 

👉Use code PURPOSEFUL for 20% OFF any AquaTru Water Purifier: https://www.AquaTru.com 

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back-to-school season is packed with emotions—joy, nerves, excitement, and a whole lot of worry about what’s to come. In this episode of the Simple, Purposeful Living Podcast, I share eight tiny tweaks that have helped my kids (and me!) face new seasons with courage. From creating side-by-side conversations and normalizing anxiety, to adding comfort anchors, practicing new situations, and celebrating milestones, these small shifts make a big difference in helping kids flex their “fear muscle.”

Rooted in my experiences as a former first-grade teacher and now as a mom to four, this conversation is all about giving our kids the tools to navigate uncertainty with resilience while reminding us as parents that our role isn’t to remove the hard things, but to walk with our kids through them. This episode will encourage you to approach back-to-school with fresh eyes, practical ideas, and a little more peace as you help your children step bravely into the year ahead.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Check out Sissy Goff on Instagram @sissygoff.

👉Get your Happy Notes to send in your kids’ lunch everyday. Use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10$ off your order! 

👉Check out my favorite Back to School Books on Amazon!

👉And lastly, don’t forget to download my FREE Affirmations for Kids List!

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever opened your fridge, spotted a soggy bag of spinach or a fuzzy berry graveyard, and thought, “Well… there goes $7” 🫠 — this episode is going to be your new best friend.

I’m joined by Amy Cross, urban homesteader and founder of The Cross Legacy, whose viral kitchen hacks have saved families up to 40% on their grocery bills. Her secret? Learning how to make food last way longer than you ever thought possible. From blueberries that stay fresh for six weeks to avocados that survive a whole month 🥑, Amy’s got tips that will blow your mind — and transform your grocery habits.

We talk about the strawberry hack that broke the internet 🍓 (and why you should only trust the original method), fridge systems that actually reduce food waste, and why apples, bananas, and oranges should never hang out in the same fruit bowl. Plus, Amy shares how she shops just once every three to four weeks and still has fresh produce the entire time — all without endless meal prep days or complicated systems.

This conversation is practical, inspiring, and sprinkled with the kind of “why didn’t I know this sooner?!” moments that will have you reorganizing your fridge before dinner tonight. Whether you want to save money, stop wasting food, or simply keep your berries alive past the weekend, this episode is packed with small tweaks that make a big difference.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Check out Amy on Instagram for more tips, tricks, and food fun @thecrosslegacy!

👉You can also find Amy on YouTube under the name The Cross Legacy.

👉Check out Amy’s Zero Waste Produce Guide at her website thecrosslegacyshop.com and use code SIMPLE15 for 15% OFF any book or book bundle offered by Amy!

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re officially in back-to-school mode, and if that thought feels more overwhelming than exciting, you’re going to love today’s conversation. Erin sits down with Brittany from @homeandkind — aka the queen of practical mom hacks — to talk all things lunchboxes, rhythms, and how to actually make this season feel lighter, not more chaotic.

Brittany shares how her business evolved from party products to viral lunch hacks, the freezer-friendly tricks that will change your mornings, and the simple snack box system that’ll have your kids packing their own lunches in no time (yes, really). 

She opens up about how motherhood has taught her to lean into her kids’ independence, how she fiercely protects her own hobbies (hello, sourdough and birdwatching!), and why sometimes the best thing we can do is embrace the chaos.

We also talk traditions (her back-to-school dinner idea is genius), her go-to breakfast and dinner shortcuts, and the tiny evening tweak that makes mornings feel 100x smoother. Whether you’re packing lunches for the first time or juggling multiple kids in different schools, Brittany’s practical wisdom and calm encouragement will leave you feeling equipped, inspired, and way less alone.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Follow Brittney on Instagram @homeandkind

👉Brittany’s cookbooks (including her Costco + Trader Joe’s One Stop Meals and Lunch Box book): shop.homeandkind.com

👉Reusable Snack Boxes Mentioned

👉Celebrate the start of school by wrapping up summer with my FREE Summer Done List — because checking things off feels so good.

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you believe we’re already at the end of July? Whether your kids are already back in school or you’re soaking up the last few weeks of summer, this episode is here to help you make the transition smoother (and way less stressful). I’m kicking off our Back-to-School series with five simple reminders that will seriously make your life 100x easier.

I’m sharing why it’s so important to look back before you move forward (celebrate your summer with my FREE Summer Done List!), how to turn dread into anticipation, and how to name those big feelings so they don’t take over. Plus, I’m giving you the friendly nudge to do something now your future self will thank you for—like school supply shopping before the aisles are picked over. And of course, the biggest tip of all: keep it simple, sweetheart. No Pinterest awards needed—just easy rhythms, simple meals, and traditions you can actually repeat.

I’m on vacation at the lake while you’re listening, but I’d love to hear what tip resonated with you most. 

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Summer Done List

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back, friends! We’re smack dab in the middle of the slow, sticky, sunshine-soaked days of July—and if you’re anything like me, that summer pace has you craving ease, fun, and a little bit of rhythm in the chaos. So this week, I’m bringing you a list I’ve been quietly keeping all season long: 10 simple summer saving graces.

These aren’t life-changing hacks or massive overhauls. They’re the small, often-overlooked tweaks—the little joys, household helpers, and daily rhythms that are quietly holding things together and making life feel just a bit brighter. From a new household rule that eliminated dishwasher drama to the frozen Pad Thai lunch I can’t stop eating, this list is full of the good stuff.

Whether you try one, two, or all ten, I hope this episode inspires you to notice and name the saving graces in your own life. Because when we recognize what’s working, we’re more likely to keep doing it—and maybe even enjoy the ride a little more.

Let’s keep life simple, purposeful, and joy-filled—even in the middle of summer chaos. ☀️

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Get our Best-Selling SPL Weekly Plan Notepad to help your weeks flow smoother. Use code PODCAST for 10% off your order today!

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer is the perfect time to slow down, get a little reflective, and have some fun—which is exactly what this Ask Me Anything episode is all about. Whether you’re on a walk, running errands, or hiding in the pantry for a moment of peace, this one’s for you.

I’m answering your thoughtful, curious, and sometimes hilarious questions—from how I remember the little details in people’s lives, to navigating social situations when you’re feeling anxious or awkward. We’ll talk about intentional relationships, what my parents do as grandparents that means so much to my kids, and how I handle body talk with my girls after walking through my own struggles with an eating disorder.

And yes, we’re also covering the lighter stuff—like why I just can’t get into movies, the snacks saving me this summer, and the one sound that drives me absolutely nuts. I even share how therapy and feedback have reshaped my year and why I’ve learned to embrace being helped, not just helping.

This episode is full of honest reflections, tiny tweaks, and a whole lot of heart to help you live a little simpler, more connected, and more intentional—because you don’t have to overhaul your life to love it. Sometimes, one tiny tweak is all it takes. 💛

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Get your Air Doctor today: www.AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code PURPOSEFUL to get UP TO $300 off today! AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, plus a 3-year warranty—an $84 value, free!

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you stick four kids in a closet recording studio in the middle of summer? You get this episode. ☀️🎙️👩‍👧‍👦

When I asked who you wanted to hear from on the podcast, a few of you said, “Bring on the kids!” And with everyone home for summer break, I figured—why not? So today, I’m joined by my four favorite co-hosts: Solan, Vera, Lucille, and Quincy.

In this special Q&A episode, we’re answering your questions—everything from favorite meals and family traditions to road trip games, fun summer moments, and what it’s really like having a mom who shares our life online. (Spoiler: they don’t mind… and one of them feels famous.)

Whether you’re a parent, an auntie, or just someone who loves a behind-the-scenes peek at real family life, this episode is full of laughter, sweet moments, and the joyful chaos of raising kids with intention.

Let’s keep it simple, a little silly, and full of heart—because summer memories don’t have to be perfect to be really good. 💛

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉 Simplify feeding your family with EveryPlate. New customers can enjoy this special offer of only $1.99 a meal. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code PURPOSEFUL199 to get started.

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your home feeling heavy (and not just because of summer clutter)? Let’s lighten the load—inside and out. 🧺🧠💛

This week, I’m joined by Julia Ubbenga—minimalist living coach, mom of five, and author of the beautiful new book Declutter Your Heart and Your Home.

Julia shares her powerful story of how minimalism became her lifeline—not just to a tidier home, but to peace, joy, and presence. We’re talking about how too much stuff creates more than mess—it creates stress, distraction, and overwhelm. But with a few small, intentional tweaks, you can reclaim your space and your sanity.

You’ll hear:

— Why clutter isn’t neutral (and how it’s secretly stressing you out)

— How to help kids become little “noticers” instead of stuff tornadoes

— The surprising first place she recommends decluttering (hint: it’s not a junk drawer)

— And how making space on the outside can shift something powerful on the inside too

Whether you’re overwhelmed by toys, drowning in laundry, or just longing for a little breathing room—this episode will help you take that first (doable!) step toward a home and heart that feel lighter.

And remember—no overhaul required. One tiny tweak at a time will do. 💫

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉 Grab Julia’s book Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy wherever books are sold!

👉Follow Julia on Instagram at @richinwhatmatters and Facebook at Rich In What Matters: Decluttering and Minimalist Living for more wisdom and practical encouragement!

👉Find more resources from Julia from her website, www.richinwhatmatters.com.

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If it feels like your kitchen has turned into a 24/7 all-you-can-eat buffet and you’re just the exhausted head chef trying to survive… this episode is for you. We’re diving into the wild world of summer mealtimes—when school’s out, appetites are up, and the “I’m hungry!” chorus never ends.

But don’t worry—we’re not just commiserating. We’re sharing practical, stress-saving ideas for snacks, lunches, and easy meals that’ll keep your kids fed and your sanity intact. No more mealtime meltdowns or grazing chaos. Just smart strategies, fresh inspiration, and tiny tweaks that make a big difference.

Whether you’re feeding toddlers, teens, or a mix of both, this episode will help you ditch the mealtime overwhelm and bring a little calm (and flavor!) back to your kitchen.

🍽️ Psst… want even more support? Go check out Episode 3: Weekly Meal Planning Simplified—it’s a total game-changer.

Let’s make this summer delicious and doable. You’ve got this. 👏🌽🍑

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices